Leadership (Abuja)
Enyeribe Anyanwu
9 September 2008
A large cache of arms and ammunition have been intercepted by the Nigerian Customs Service at the Tin Can Island Port, Lagos.
Penultimate Saturday, during a routine physical examination of containers already cleared for delivery to their owners, vigilant Customs officers at the Ports and Terminals Multi-Services Limited (PTML) discovered what could be regarded as an armoury cleverly concealed in a 40-footer container and three used vehicles.
LEADERSHIP gathered that the container marked ACLU No. Q62784/0STC, contained one used Jeep Wrangler, one used Volkswagen Beetle, and one used Ford Econoline, in which the 'arsenal' was concealed, were imported by a trader at the Trade Fair Complex, Lagos. The controversial consignment was entered on SGD No TC1/830559C-47361 of September 8, 2008 and cleared by Messes Paska and Walker of 1, Creek Road, Apapa, Lagos.
Information gleaned from the arresting customs command revealed that about 14 guns of different kinds and 10,200 pieces of ammunition were discovered in the offensive container.
Details of the 'armoury' showed that there were one single barrel gun model- No.550 MKII 12 GA, and made in the USA with No. 043950; one pump action riffle- No J381410, also made in the USA; three empty pistol magazines with one sight lens and one dismantled pistol without chamber and with No. EDH 770 US.
Others included another dismantled pistol without chamber and with No. KPF 408, made in Austria, and concealed in a clipper box; one dismantled pistol-No VA 4850, one dismantled pistol-No. YC 0645; three pistol chambers and two empty pistol magazines.
Also concealed in the container were total pieces of 10,200 live ammunition, cleverly packed and concealed.
These included 10 packets of 9mm calibre live ammunition of 500 pieces in each packet, making up a total of 5,000 pieces; five packets of 9mm calibre live ammunition of 1,000 pieces in each packet, making up a total of 5,000 pieces, and four packets of 38 calibre live ammunition of 50 pieces in each packet, making up a total of 200 pieces.
The arms and ammunition were variously wrapped in aluminium foil and video machines.
Already, one Mr. Sunny Akalonu had been arrested and detained pending the outcome of investigation.
The Customs High Command was already aware of the seizure and has opened a full scale inquiry into the matter.
Mr. Wale Adeniyi, a Chief Superintendent of Customs and the National Public Relations Officer of the service, confirmed the incident.
While giving account of his stewardship in his first 100 days in office overt the weekend in Abuja, the Customs Comptroller-General, Alhaji Hamman Bello Ahmed also confirmed the seizure.
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